Zhen Ci Yan Jiu. 1991 ; 16(2): 112-4.

[Effect of acupuncture on neuronal loss induced by axotomy in the rat hypoglossal nuclei]

Wei Y, Shi H, Wan X.

Peking Union Medical College, Beijing.

It was reported previously that acupuncture promotes regeneration of rat's peripheral nerve. In order to study the effect of acupuncture on recovery of motoneuronal lesion and regeneration of central nervous system, we studied the effect of acupuncture on neuronal loss induced by axotomy in the rat hypoglossal nuclei. A total of 6 pairs of rats (acupunctured and controls in pairs) were used, (each pair of) the rats were paired of the same litter and sex. After the right hypoglossal nerves were severed, rats were reared for 14 days. In this period, we gave acupuncture therapy to the acupunctured rats but nothing to the controls. After perfusion, serial paraffin sections of brain stems of rats were cut and stained with cresyl violet. Serial sections per rat were used for counting the perikaryon of the hypoglossal nuclei. The reduced percentage of neuronal population followed axotomy was calculated. It was found that neuronal loss was less severe in acupunctured rats. Difference in the reduced percentage of neuronal population between acupunctured rats and controls was significant statistically. It was shown that acupuncture increased survival of lesioned neurons, and thus acupuncture may be helpful to the recovery of neuronal lesion. The detailed mechanism is going to be explored.